The Legend of Sheba: Rise of a Queen by Tosca Lee: A Book Review + Author Interview

The Legend of Sheba: Rise of a Queen

336 Pages

Howard Books

Her name is legend. Her story, the epic of nations. The Queen of Sheba. A powerful new novel of love, power, and the questions at the heart of existence by the author of the award-winning “brilliant” (Library Journal) and “masterful” (Publishers Weekly) Iscariot.

There is the story you know: A foreign queen, journeying north with a caravan of riches to pay tribute to a king favored by the One God. The tale of a queen conquered by a king and god both before returning to her own land laden with gifts.

That is the tale you were meant to believe.

Which means most of it is a lie.

The truth is far more than even the storytellers could conjure. The riches more priceless. The secrets more corrosive. The love and betrayal more passionate and devastating.

Across the Red Sea, the pillars of the great oval temple once bore my name: Bilqis, Daughter of the Moon. Here, to the west, the porticoes knew another: Makeda, Woman of Fire. To the Israelites, I was queen of the spice lands, which they called Sheba.

In the tenth century BC, the new Queen of Sheba has inherited her father’s throne and all its riches at great personal cost. Her realm stretches west across the Red Sea into land wealthy in gold, frankincense, and spices. But now new alliances to the North threaten the trade routes that are the lifeblood of her nation. Solomon, the brash new king of Israel famous for his wealth and wisdom, will not be denied the tribute of the world—or of Sheba’s queen. With tensions ready to erupt within her own borders and the future of her nation at stake, the one woman who can match wits with Solomon undertakes the journey of a lifetime in a daring bid to test and win the king. But neither ruler has anticipated the clash of agendas, gods, and passion that threatens to ignite—and ruin—them both. An explosive retelling of the legendary king and queen and the nations that shaped history.

* * * * *

The Legend of Sheba: Rise of a Queen is my new favorite book by Tosca Lee! Sheba is a beautifully woven tale of the mysterious Queen of Sheba and her encounter with the biblical King Solomon. Tosca Lee has re-created the ancient world with all its splendor, so much so that one could almost smell the frankincense and myrrh, feel the exotic royal fabrics, and taste the gritty dessert sand along the trade routes. And if the magnificence of the ancient world doesn't pull you in, the account of Sheba's life certainly will.

What I love most about the narrative of Sheba is the depth and humanity of the Queen. She is not another royal no one can relate to, but a woman of character and strength. She is a lover of words and wisdom. She leads her people as one who has overcome her fair share (or more) of suffering.

Truly, there is nothing I disliked about Sheba except for when I read the last word of the last page because I didn't want the story to end!

If you're looking for a hot-off-the-press, brilliantly told story of love and loss, faith and hope, mystery and charm, I recommend The Legend of Sheba: Rise of a Queen.

* * * * *

“One of the most gifted novelists writing today.”
—Steven James, best-selling author.

Tosca Lee is the award-winning, New York Times best-selling author of Iscariot; Demon: A Memoir; Havah: The Story of Eve, and the Books of Mortals series with New York Times best-seller Ted Dekker (Forbidden, Mortal and Sovereign). Her highly anticipated seventh novel, The Legend of Sheba, releases September 9, 2014.

Tosca received her B.A. in English and International Relations from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts with studies at Oxford University. She is a lifelong world adventure traveler and makes her home in the Midwest. To learn more about Tosca, visit www.toscalee.com.

On The Legend of Sheba:

• You are known for your meticulous research. How did researching Legend of Sheba differ from your other books?

After a year and a half of hard research for Iscariot, I thought research for Sheba would be much easier. Not so! It is much harder to fill in the historical record of 1000 years earlier than the time of Christ due to the dearth of archaeological progress in history-rich and troubled Yemen, natural phenomena such as the encroaching sands of the desert, and a lack of historical records recording any queen in the Southern Arabian region.

• What do we actually know about the Queen of Sheba?

We know something about the Sabaean (the Israelite Sheba = ancient Arabian Saba) people: that they had a capital in Marib, a sovereign “federator” who united the kingdoms of Saba, an elegant and evolving script, a sophisticated dam near the capital that turned Marib’s dusty fields into oases, and that there is great evidence of Sabaean settlement in the area of Ethiopia near what would become Aksum. We know the Sabaeans of the 10th Century BC worshipped the moon god, Almaqah, though experts do not agree whether this was a male or female deity. We know that in terms of the ancient world, they were quite rich due in large part to their cultivation of frankincense in the southeastern region, and that they had an extensive and evolving trade network that extended as far north as Damascus, as far east as India, and as far west across the Red Sea as Ethiopia and the continent beyond.

• What do we actually know about King Solomon—I understand that the academic opinion varies quite a lot from the biblical account.

Again, we know more about the region, people, language, culture and ethnic history of the Israelites than anything, archaeologically-speaking, of the king himself. It would be such a help if something were unearthed from the City of David or the Temple Mount that could be linked to Solomon’s temple or directly to Solomon himself! There was an item—a small ivory pomegranate that was once thought to top the scepter of a priest of this time period, with an inscription indicating so… but this was later ruled to be a forgery, though the carved pomegranate did date to the correct (early to mid-900s BC) time period. I say more about this question in the Author’s Notes of Legend of Sheba.

• The queen is a very minor character in the scope of the biblical narrative, but you assert that her famous visit to King Solomon is vitally important in the scope of Old Testament history. Why?

For two reasons. If the story of the United Monarchy (the kingdom of David and his son/successor, Solomon) is not true, then the bedrock of three major world religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) collapses into fiction, and the claim of Jews to the land of Israel with it. Perhaps the authors of 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles knew that, because they took the opportunity to basically say, “Hey, this queen from the ends of the earth, that famous Queen of Sheba, came and brought tribute to our king, and blessed him and our god and said ‘All that I heard was true, and I never even heard the half of it!’” This is fascinating. It begs the question: what was it that was so great about this female sovereign—in a time when the world was ruled by men—and a pagan, no less… what was it about her that was so outstanding that her endorsement of Solomon, his riches, wisdom, and god, held so much weight as to be included in the Old Testament narrative? Who was this woman who matched wits with the wisest man in the world—whose throne was so secure that she could leave it and make the 1400 mile journey of half a year to visit this king… before making the long trek back? Well, this must be a woman worth knowing something about.

• I understand you created a special bonus for your readers with Legend of Sheba. Can you tell us more about that?

Ismeni—a free eBook short story prequel to The Legend of Sheba—will be available August 26. This is the story of Sheba’s mother, and sheds some light on the man who would become the queen of Sheba’s right-hand councilor. It’s about 34 pages long, and also includes a preview of the Prologue and first chapter of The Legend of Sheba.

Links to Download FREE:

Amazon: http://bit.ly/IsmeniPrelude

Simon & Schuster: http://bit.ly/LegendofShebaPrequel

Penny Wise: A Book Review

About the book: Penny Wise introduces us to yet another family in "the neighborhood"---the Jaspers, busy with demanding jobs, busy with church, busy volunteering, parents of three active teenagers, juggling sometimes crazy schedules. All good things. Until all those "good things" feed into a series of crises that affects the whole family. Something's gotta change!

The third in the Windy City Neighbors series, Penny Wise is a contemporary peek at an urban family wrestling with the spiritual and practical challenges of real life. The series employs the innovating storytelling technique of "parallel novels," each with its own drama and story arc, but whose characters' lives become intertwined with their neighbors and affect one another. Welcome to Beecham Street---a typical, isolated American neighborhood that is beginning to come out of its shell . . . for better or worse.

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/yLCKz 

About the authors: Dave and Neta Jackson are award-winning authors living in the Chicago area where their parallel novels from the Yada Yada House of Hope and Harry Bentley series are set. As a husband/wife writing team, Dave and Neta Jackson are enthusiastic about books, kids, walking with God, gospel music, and each other! Together they are the authors or coauthors of over 100 books.

Find Neta and Dave online: website

Blog Tour: Check out what other bloggers are saying about Penny Wise! http://litfusegroup.com/campaigns/penny-wise-dave-neta-jackson

My Review:

Penny Wise is like peeking into my own life at the moment! This summer I am super busy, going from here to there, with barely any time for myself in the meantime. They're all good things. Work, outreach stuff, church, small group. But sometimes I feel like I'm in over my head and barely have time for myself, not to mention, my husband.

If I'm being honest, even writing this review is being done in haste as I'm in the middle of making dinner. And, to top it off, I haven't even finished the book because of my jam-packed schedule!

Here's what I know of Penny Wise... it's well-written with an insightful look into the life of super-busy Michelle Jasper, her family, and the neighborhood of Beecham Street! It considers the demands of living, working, and loving Jesus in an urban world. Penny Wise goes beyond the surface and challenges the reader to recognize what's important in life and go deeper in their relationship with Jesus. 

**Disclaimer: I received a free copy of Penny Wise in exchange for my honest review.**

Where Is Home?

They say home is where your heart is.

Home is different things to different people. It might be a geographical location. A physical building. A community of people. Or even a feeling. A dream. A memory.

My single-wide trailer is located in small-town Ohio. But home is my family and friends. It's being known and  understood and loved by them. It's knowing and understanding and loving them.

Home is being able to be me with all my flaws, inabilities, all the undesirable things that make me hard to know and love.

Sometimes home is sitting quietly in pj's on a Saturday morning sipping coffee - ahem - Mt. Dew and reading a good book. A book that speaks of dreams, of a place where people come first. Where "love is about seeking the best for a person, even at expense to ourselves and even when it is hard in the moment." A place where animals matter, art is appreciated, and stories - real or fiction - are shared and honored and lived.

This place, this dream come true after fifteen years, is God's Whisper farm. It is the home of Andi Cumbo, writer, editor, teacher, and friend.

A few months ago Andi wrote and released God's Whisper Manifesto, the makings of a dream. In it, she shares 10 principles of what she believes makes up an ideal community. Having read and re-read her manifesto, my heart longs for such a community. And one day I hope to visit God's Whisper farm, to share in the joy of a dream come true.

To celebrate Andi and God's Whisper farm, I am giving away a Kindle edition of God's Whisper Manifesto.* Not only is Andi's dream beautiful, she also writes beautifully. Every sentence, every paragraph, paints a picture of the farm and the community that dwells there. It's a beautiful picture. And I want to share it with you.

To enter to win a copy of God's Whisper Manifesto please share in the comment below of what home is to you. 

*Winner will be announced on Monday, March 25.

Q & A with Tosca Lee

A few weeks ago I was given the opportunity to ask New York Times Bestselling author Tosca Lee a few questions about her latest novel, Iscariot, which released on Tuesday, February 5th. Iscariot is a fascinating look at the story of Judas, arguably the most reviled man in Biblical history. Tosca is the author of Havah and Demon, and the co-author of Forbidden, Mortal, and Sovereign (written with Ted Dekker). 

Me: What drew you to Judas's story?

Tosca: My editor friend Jeff Gerke (who published Demon and Havah) suggested it. And I ran in the other direction for about a year. What finally got me was the encouragement of friends - most notably Robert Liparulo - and the fact that I finally admitted I was obsessed with the story.

Me: How do you see yourself in Judas?

Tosca: This story is largely about love vs. the law and about the agendas we have for God. Things that I've gone round and round about most of my life. Ultimately, though, this story is really about the inexplicable and uncontainable person of Jesus.

Me: In Matthew 26:50, Jesus tells Judas, "Do what you came for, friend?" What do you think of Jesus' response to his near betrayal?

Tosca: That he knew it was coming. That perhaps, he even had compassion for Judas, knowing that a day would come when he had wished he had never been born.

Me: What was the hardest part of writing Iscariot?

Tosca: The research. It took a year and a half. It was ginormous. And then writing it. And then editing it. The entire project was a long labor.

Me: What, if anything, do you want the readers to take away from Judas's story?

Tosca: Of course I want them to ask the question if they would have done the same, but what I really want is for them to slip into the skin of someone close to Jesus and experience him, as I did.

Many thanks to Tosca for giving me the opportunity to do the Q & A!!!

In Jesus, Judas believes he has found “the One” – a miracle-worker.  The promised Messiah and future king of the Jews, destined to overthrow Roman rule.  Galvanized, Judas joins the Nazarene’s followers, ready to enact the change he has waited for all his life.

But Judas’ vision of a nation free from Roman rule is crushed by the inexplicable actions of the Nazarene himself, who will not bow to social or religious convention – who seems in the end even to turn against his own people.  At last, Judas must confront the fact that the master he loves is not the liberator he hoped for but a man pursuing a drastically different agenda.

Iscariot is the story of Judas – from his tumultuous childhood and tenuous entry into a career and family life to culminating events that have marked him as the betrayer of Jesus.  But even more, it is a singular and surprising view into the life of Jesus himself that forces us all to reexamine everything we thought we knew about the most famous – and infamous – religious icons in history.

Take Time to Pause

Life is busy. 

We fill our days with work, family, friends, social media, entertainment of all sorts. If we're lucky, we may get a little bit of sleep to energize us to do it all over again the next day. We live in a world that thrives on staying busy and filling the void in our lives with noise. 

Noise that tries to drown out the voice that says "I'm not good enough."

Noise that tries to fill the cracks of a broken heart.

Noise that tries to feed our hungry souls.

We need to stop the noise.

Joseph Iregbu's SELAH offers us a moment to pause, to quiet our souls, and reflect on the grace and hope of God. This 90 day devotional takes the reader on a journey of discovery - of finding out who God really is and what our purpose is in Him. 

This book is not for everyone. It's for believers who are seeking personal growth in their walk with God. It's for those who feel helpless and hopeless due to life's circumstances. It's for folks looking for greater meaning and purpose for their life.

Do you long for quiet moments with Him or want to (re)discover what it is to walk with God? Then SELAH is the book for you!

Though this book is not yet available to purchase, the author has generously offered the first seven days FREE for download. Trust me, you don't want to miss out on this great offer!

  

Got {Reading} Goals?

photo by ginnerobot

All around the blog-o-sphere, twitter-verse, and Facebook-land, folks are posting their New Year's resolutions and goals for the year. Not me. I've chosen one word to keep me going through 2013.

There are some folks, however, who have piqued my interest. These folks are the ones who have been discussing their reading goals for this next year. People like Katie Aexlson who read close to 52 books last year and aims to read 50 books this year. People like Joe Bunting who plans to read and review 100 books. People like Lore Ferguson who has already scheduled an entire year's worth of reading for 2013 and has created spreadsheets and everything. (Now that's some serious planning!)

So here's my goal - read (on average) one book a week. That's 52 books. For a reader like myself, that seems pretty reasonable. I may, or may not, choose to review all 52 books. I'll leave that decision for another day. And I will also update my blog quarterly (March, June, September, December) with a list of books that I've read thus far.

Sound good?

Today is the end of week 2 of 2013, and I'm already ahead of schedule. I've read three books this year :)

Identity by Ted Dekker
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
Beyond Ordinary by Justin & Trisha Davis (check out my review here)

Do you have reading goals for 2013?

Come Alive by Elora Ramirez: A Book Review

In Come Alive, Elora Ramirez pens the story of Stephanie Tiller, a young girl who clings to hope in the midst of the darkness that is her life. Abused from the age of 12 by the people who were meant to love and protect her, Stephanie struggles with self-worth and trust. She hopes for a better world, a place of healing, beauty, and love.

From page one, Stephanie's story captured my heart, shredding it to pieces. Her story is fictional, but she represents thousands of girls whose stories rarely, if ever, get told. As Stephanie tells Kevin, "The sky is screaming. The colors are begging us to notice. The reds dancing and making a soft shade of pink on the clouds' underbellies and the blue fighting for its own place in the sky. The morning sky will scream my discontent to a world not listening."

It's time to be silent and listen. Listen to Stephanie's story. Then listen to the stories of others around you. You never know. You might just change a life.

*****

I am honored to be a part of the launch team for Come Alive.  Elora is a beautiful storyteller, as you can tell from the above quote.  Her words are raw, haunting.  Yet they are filled with hope, beauty, redemption.  

That's why I'm drawn to Stephanie's story.  I cannot fathom the horrors she faced daily.  But I love her fight, the tenacity to not give in to evil.  I'm drawn to her ability to find the light in the midst of the darkness.  To see that there is hope left in the world.

Thanks to Elora's generosity, I was privileged to receive an advanced copy of Come Alive.  Because I believe stories can change lives, I am giving away a Kindle edition* of the book!  All you have to do is log-in to the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the steps to enter.  You earn points by leaving a comment on my blog, liking the Come Alive book Facebook page, liking Elora Nicole's writing page on Facebook, and extra points for Tweeting about the giveaway.  The more actions you perform, the more points you earn.  I will announce the winner next Tuesday, September 25.  Thanks, and have fun!

*You do not need to own a Kindle in order to receive the Kindle edition of the book.  You may download a FREE Kindle app for your PC, MAC, or smartphone.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Let's Write a Short Story by Joe Bunting: A Book Review

A few months ago I declared to the world that I am a writer.  I shared how myself, my best friend, and my husband embarked on a journey late last year to write our first novel.  I've written more on my personal blog and even launched a fiction blog.  I sought out other writers and writing blogs, and joined a weekly Twitter chat group.  One of those writers was Joe Bunting who blogs at The Write Practice.

Last week Joe sent me a copy of his new book, Let's Write a Short Story.  The pages of this short 152 page book provide the reader with three powerful tools:

• the motivation to dust off the old keyboard and start writing short stories (because that's how most of the literary greats got started)
• the know-how to write good short stories (because sometimes a formula is necessary)
• the resources to submit short stories for publication (because stories were meant to be shared, not kept hidden)

I'll be honest with you, I've never written a short story.  This book has given me new insight on short stories, so much so that I am declaring to the world that I will write and submit at least one short story by the end of September.

If you're a writer seeking to publish the next great novel of our time, pick up a copy of Joe's book.  If you're a wanna-be writer checking this whole writing thing out, read this book.  It's worth the four bucks.

You can purchase Let's Write a Short Story for the Kindle here, for the Nook here, or on the book's website here.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of Let's Write a Short Story for my honest review.

Salvation Is Simple, Or Is It?

It's week 2 over at Marla Taviano's summer read-a-long & boy are things getting hot!  OK, not really.  It's a friendly discussion.  But the questions are getting tough.  And I imagine that they're only going to get tougher as we go along.

This week we all read Chapters 1 & 2.  Both chapters had me laughing out loud and nodding my head in agreement in quite a few spots.  Rachel's quirky methods of evangelism and her apologetic strategies as a young girl astound me.  Seriously, her argument for the existence of Santa Claus had me rolling!!  Anyway...

Marla asked a couple of questions on her blog about what it means to really be saved.  She also asked a question about faith & politics, but I'm not going to answer that here.  We'll save those thoughts for another day.  :)  

I love this quote by David Platt, author of Radical: “This is why none of these man-made catch phrases are in the Bible. You will not find a verse in Scripture where people are told to ‘bow your heads, close your eyes, and repeat after me.’ You will not find a place where a superstitious sinner’s prayer is even mentioned. And you will not find an emphasis on accepting Jesus. We have taken the infinitely glorious Son of God, who endured the infinitely terrible wrath of God and who now reigns as the infinitely worthy Lord of all, and we have reduced him to a poor, puny Savior who is just begging for us to accept him.”


Salvation is simple.  Belief (in Jesus) + Confession (of sin) = Salvation  


When Jesus went about gathering His disciples, He didn't tell them how to be saved.  He said, "Come and follow Me."  There was no Romans Road, or sinners prayer, or asking Jesus to live in your heart.


The disciples left everything behind.  The disciples followed Jesus. 


Salvation is simple.  Or is it?


Salvation is about leaving everything behind.  When Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3 what it meant to be saved, He said that one had to be born again.  That means starting over, beginning all over again, creating something new.  Regeneration.


Salvation is also about following Jesus.  Again, Jesus invited His disciples (and us) to follow Him.  "Follow" means to monitor or observe, to accept as guide or leader, and to imitate or copy.  A true Jesus follower sees what Jesus is doing & does the same thing.


There's a woman that Rachel talks about in chapter 2 of Evolving she calls "June the Ten Commandments Lady."  June is an outspoken elderly woman "who professes the name of Jesus Christ in one breath and then curses her neighbor in the next."  (48)  Rachel wonders if that profession of Jesus is enough to save her.  Further, she wonders if June's profession is worth more than the faith of a Buddhist or Hindu or Muslim who practice kindness and compassion.


Those are tough questions.  They're emotional ones.   This is what I think based on the definition of salvation given above - salvation is about leaving everything behind AND following Jesus.  You can't have one without the other.  June's profession of faith isn't enough.  A Buddhist or Hindu or Muslim who practices kindness and compassion isn't enough.  True salvation requires both.  


What do you think it takes to be saved?  How would you answer Rachel's question regarding June the Ten Commandment lady & those of other faiths?

Finding Hope In Unlikely Places

A few weeks ago a friend of mine let me borrow Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda.  She knows that I love to read.  She also knows that I have a love for India having done missionary work there many years ago.

I just finished the book a couple of hours ago, so I'm still processing all that I read.  Secret Daughter is fiction, but there is so much truth packed into this story as it relates to family, faith, love, and hope.

As Somer and later Asha, traveled to India for the first time, I remembered my own first trip to India.  The sea of brown faces.  The vendors calling out chai in the train stations.  The smell of pollution, sweat, and spices that hits you as soon as you walk out the door.  The brightly dressed women in their saris and punjabis.  The children with babies on their hips begging for change.  It was all overwhelming.  Frightening yet beautiful.

In a way, I could relate to Somer's story.  Particularly, her desire to have a child and be a mother.  My greatest desire is to have a daughter, a little girl to sing to sleep, teach to read and write, and be there to guide her steps as she grows.  To be the same kind of mother and friend that my mom is to me.

In other ways, I could relate to Asha's journey.  She goes to India for many reasons, but the answers she finds aren't quite what she expects.  What she finds is hope in the most unlikely of places - in the faces of the women and children of the slums.  Whether born into extreme poverty or forced into it, these women and children have hope for a brighter tomorrow.  In the midst of the darkest of places, there was a ray of light.

There's nothing like traveling to one of the poorest nations on Earth to gain perspective.  On days when I grumble and complain about my single-wide trailer, I only have to remember the makeshift homes made of cardboard boxes, mud, and tarps in the slums of India.  When my 14 year old car gives me fits, I only have to remember the hard, calloused feet of the women of India who walk for miles without complaint.

On my darkest days when I think there is nothing left to live for, I only have to remember that there is everything to live for because there is still HOPE.

HOPE in the Creator who created me in the secret place and knew me before I was even born (Psalm 139)

HOPE in a loving Father who takes delight in me and rejoices over me with singing (Zephaniah 3:17)

HOPE in my Savior, Jesus, who took my sin and shame upon Himself on the cross (John 19)

What unlikely places have you stumbled upon hope?

Is Questioning Your Faith OK?

This summer I am participating in Marla Taviano's Summer Read-A-Long.  Each participant is reading Rachel Held Evans' book Evolving in Monkey Town.  I picked up a copy of Rachel's book a year ago at a discount store and had every intention of reading it, but never did.  Good thing, I guess.  ;)

Anyway, this week the assignment was to read the preface and introduction to the book.  Then we were to go to Marla's blog and answer some questions.  If you want to know the questions and my answers, go find them in the comments.

I say that because what I really want to focus on in this post is the premise of Rachel's book - questioning.  Some would say that anyone of faith who questions their faith is way out of line.  That faith is some sort of blind acceptance.  You know, faith is believing without seeing.  So questioning one's faith means you don't have any faith at all.  But is that really true?

My faith journey started as a young girl.  I was only 10 when I started going to church regularly and when I heard about Jesus.  It was at that same age that I accepted Him into my heart and began the nearly 25 year journey.  As a young girl and young teen, I didn't question my faith.  I accepted what the children's church teachers said and what my youth pastor and pastor taught.

The older I got, the more I loved to learn.  I also loved to debate.  It was natural for me to want to learn how to debate all sides of the argument.  So I learned, researched, and questioned.  I went through missionary training school in my 20s (having felt called as a 13 year old to be a missionary) and was exposed to many different ways of thinking in my faith.  Then I went to college, and eventually earned my Masters degree.  All along the way, I've questioned my faith.  I've questioned others faith.  I've wrestled with the existence of God, the problem of evil, and on and on and on.  I still have questions.  I still wrestle.

Like Rachel says in Evolving, "I had to take a closer look at what I believed and find out what was truly essential."  In turn, my questioning hasn't led to doubt or disbelief.  Instead, it's brought me closer to Jesus.  And for that, I'm thankful.

Do you think it's okay to question your faith?  Have you ever questioned your faith?  If so, has it led to doubt & disbelief, or has it caused you to grow deeper in faith?

The Canary List by Sigmund Brouwer: A Book Review

The Canary List: A Novel by Sigmund Brouwer is a dark tale that follows Jamie Piper, a child of the foster care system that can sense something most children can't - evil.  Crockett Grey, her teacher, just wants to mark the anniversary of his daughters death alone with a bottle of liquor.  (Read the 1st chapter here!)


While I found the book's premise interesting and the opening chapters engaging, I thought the book really failed to deliver its promise.  The characters were underdeveloped and the story line was confusing.  The only thing I found truly intriguing was the Catholic tie-in and discussion of true possession.  Everything else bored me.


If you're looking for a supernatural Christian thriller, this book definitely has some of those elements (dark vs light, good vs evil, etc).  But if you're looking for a real page-turner that will keep you up at night, this is not that book!


Disclaimer: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for an honest review. 

You Can Be Everything God Wants You To Be by Max Lucado: A Book Review

Still looking for the perfect gift for the graduate in your life?  Grab a copy of You Can Be Everything God Wants You To Be by Max Lucado!  This small gift book packs the perfect punch from page 1, encouraging the reader to look at their life and determine their gifts, passions, and uniqueness.  For it is in these things that one will find their purpose in life.

Max Lucado has always been a favorite author of mine, and I've not read one book of his that I didn't like.  The same can be said for this little book.  Not only is the message profound and inspiring, the format of the book is engaging.  There are relevant scriptures at the beginning of each chapter, important passages highlighted in the margins, and unique illustrations throughout.

This little book has such a powerful, Godly message for those seeking God's purpose for their life.  Not only would I recommend it to the recent high school or college graduate, but I highly recommend it to anyone who is wanting to know what God wants them to be in life!

Book Giveaway:

I believe the message of this book so much that I've decided to give a copy away!  Here's how to enter:  1) leave a comment on this blog telling me why you want this book and 2) share this blog post on Facebook or Twitter.  The winner will be determined by a random drawing.  I will announce the winner on Monday, June 4th.  Good luck!!


Giveaway is officially closed!  The winner will be announced at 9am EST.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Summer Read-A-Long

For the past six weeks, my church - Centerpoint - has been doing a series called "Sex, Marriage, & Fairytales."  By far, my most favorite part of the series was the ladies even we held with a special guest speaker.  Our speaker was Marla Taviano and she had the fun task of talking to us ladies all about s-e-x.  Marla was flippin' hilarious, and I loved every minute of her talk.  She was funny, engaging, and most important, genuine.  Sex is a touchy subject, yet she was very open and honest.  It was refreshing.


Anyway, ever since the ladies event a few weeks ago, I've started reading Marla's blog, became her Facebook friend, and follow her on Twitter.  About an hour ago, she published a new blog post that excited me!  You all know how I LOVE to read.  Well, Marla is doing a "Summer Read-A-Long" beginning in June.  She chose the book "Evolving in Monkey Town" by Rachel Held Evans, an author/blogger/speaker.  I bought this book about a year ago at a discount store but put it away and never read it.  Funny enough, I found it in my office yesterday while digging through some stuff.


This is who Marla says should read the book:

If you’re a Christian and you’ve ever doubted some things you’d consider Essentials of the Faith–and it scared you to death–you should read this book.

If you’re a Christian who is 100% certain about every single one of your beliefs, you should read this book.

If you don’t consider yourself a Christian and want a little more insight into us crazy folk, you should read this book.

As part of the Read-A-Long, Marla's going to have an open discussion on her blog.  Anyone is open to join.  I'll be following along, and will probably post my thoughts every now and then.  Please feel free to join me!!

Life, In Spite of Me: A Book Review

Life, In Spite of Me is the remarkable true story of Kristen Jane Anderson's journey through depression, rape, attempted suicide, chronic pain, and extraordinary hope.  At seventeen, Kristen found herself so deeply rooted in depression that she laid down on a set of train tracks, waiting for her life to end.  What happened next was nothing short of a miracle, and the beginning of an extraordinary journey of hope.

Kristen shares her story openly and honestly.  It is raw and emotional at times, but filled with incredible beauty.  Throughout the pages, Kristen gives intimate glimpses into her daily struggles as she still wants to die yet continues to live.  But the most incredible part of her story is how God creates beauty out of the ashes of Kristen's life.  While Kristen intended to end her life, God saved her life, redeemed it, and gave her a hope and purpose far beyond what she could have ever imagined!

As I read Kristen's story, I was reminded of my own.  At sixteen, I too struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts.  Thankfully I had encouraging family and friends who walked with me through the dark times.  Even more, I'm thankful that God was with me and showed me early on that He had a plan and purpose for my life.  As an adult, Kristen's story encouraged me to continue to trust God in the midst of living with a spouse who is bi-polar (manic-depressive).

Kristen's story is beautiful, hopeful, and encouraging.  I would highly recommend her story to anyone who has a teen or other loved one who might be struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts. 

Read an excerpt from Life, In Spite of Me.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Save Me From Myself: A Book Review

Save Me From Myself is the engaging true story of Brian "Head" Welch, the former lead guitarist of Korn.  At the peak of the band's career, Brian leaves with little explanation to his bandmates, family, friends, and fans.  Many are stunned to hear of his leaving, and many more are astounded when they learn the truth of his leaving - Brian had found God. 

This book begins with Brian telling us about his youth, and the drug-induced journey he takes through life, love, and music.  It's a story you'd expect to hear from a rock n roll god - especially the sex and drugs.  But his journey is uniquely different, as he captures the beauty of redemption.  Brian's life is changed as he is pursued by a relentless God, setting him free from addiction, and giving his life new meaning.  All told in a personable, relatable way, Brian hopes his story "save a lot of people from going down the same roads of destruction" that he traveled.


While I was never a big fan of Korn, their music was frequently played on one of my favorite radio stations during the 90s.  I knew their songs, liked their style, and felt they related to my generation.  Even though Brian's story is a far cry from mine, pieces of his story resonate with my own.  I can easily relate to his youth - the longing to fit in and to have real friendships.  While my youth didn't leave me addicted to drugs and traveling the world as part of a rock band, it did shape who I am now.  My life story wouldn't be the same without the pain and joys I experienced then.  And, in the end, both our stories capture the beauty of redemption as we encountered the living God.

This book might not be for everyone, but I would highly recommend it to anyone who might be a fan of Korn.  Or anyone who's looking to read an incredible story of life-change.  Save Me From Myself is, simply put, a beautiful redemption story.

my book wish-list from "The Nines" conference

A week or so ago I attended an online conference called "The Nines."  Well, I didn't really attend all of it.  Ok, I really only watched a few minutes of it.  But that's not my fault.  I blame my internet connection.  It wasn't cooperating that day.

Anyway, "The Nines" had over 100 speakers over a 10 hour time period.  Many of the speakers are also authors, and today I spent A LOT of time browsing an online bookstore checking out their books, trying to determine which ones I'd like to read.  Here's my list:

Real-Time Connections: Linking Your Job to God's Global Work & Glocalization by Bob Roberts
Barefoot Church: Serving the Least in a Consumer Culture by Brandon Hatmaker
For the City by Darrin Patrick
Spiritual Warfare & Missions by Ed Stetzer
Dangerous Church by John Bishop
Primal by Mark Batterson
Change the World by Michael Slaughter
The Surge by Pete Brisco
The Poor Will Be Glad by Peter Greer
Compelled by Love by Phillip Nation
Missional Communities by Reggie McNeal
This Beautiful Mess by Rick McKinley
Simply Strategic Volunteers: Empowering People for Ministry by Tim Stevens
Awakening a Passion for Heaven on Earth by Ted Dekker (ok, this one isn't from "The Nines," but I found it while looking through all "The Nines" books, and Ted's one of my fave authors, so....)

Looks like a great list, huh?

As I was thinking about how I would like to read all these books, I thought to myself that surely some of my friends may own one or two of these books.  Or knows someone that owns them.  Or maybe knows someone who might be willing to let me borrow them.  :)

I'm a good borrower, I promise.  And I'm a quick reader, so I won't have them long.

Whaddya think?  Got any of the above books I can borrow?